Letters: Health bill will wreck U.S. economy

Health bill will wreck U.S. economy
This health care “reform” bill will reform nothing, except our economy. The Republican editorial board suggests we should take what we can get and go from there.
This is a very bad bill with fuzzy math; double counting savings, 10 years of taxes to pay for six years of benefits and extracting the very costly “Doctor Fix” from the bill, to name a few.
Isn’t it better to get it right the first time with something so important and massively expensive? Do you really believe that adding 30 million people to the health-care system, mostly subsidized by the government, will somehow keeps costs down and lower the deficit?
If you do a little checking, countries that offer health care for all do nothing but talk about trying to control costs and shorten waiting times for treatment.
Here in Massachusetts everyone is already covered and the dirty little secret is that health-care coverage is going to bankrupt our state. By the way, even though everyone is covered, the poor still go to the emergency room to be treated. Why? There are not enough doctors and the wait to see one, if you can, is too long. Do you think it will get better or worse with “reform”? We deserve better, but this isn’t it.
--RON BRADLEY
--Springfield
Inheritance tax drives people south
I always enjoy reading Barbara Bernard’s columns and her March 19 column was no exception.
Her column made me aware of a problem I honestly did not know existed. I knew people spent the winters in Florida, but had not idea so many Massachusetts residents were making Florida their permanent residence.
The explanation of the inheritance tax made me realize why citizens of Massachusetts are leaving, and at a very alarming rate. Why tax people again and again? The fact that someone saves and pays taxes all their lives shouldn’t penalize them again.
Here in Massachusetts after we are gone, our families get taxed again on earnings that were already taxed. We aren’t called “Taxachusetts” for nothing. Every time our state needs money, it doesn’t spend down, it finds other ways to hit us in the pocketbook. I assure you I have no interest in this tax other than it is outright unfair.
--ANN LeBLANC
--Holyoke
Verizon portrayed unfairly in book
This letter is in response to The Republican’s March 11 article regarding Tom Juravich’s book, which I believe unfairly portrays our Andover call center in a negative light. Specifically, I want to clear up the two inaccuracies cited in the article.
First, employees do not have to raise their hands if they need a break. They can do so at their own discretion. To best serve our customers, we do ask employees to let their supervisor know whenever they leave their post. That’s just common sense.
Second, employees volunteer to work overtime in most cases, and most employees appreciate the extra pay. The average amount of overtime worked per employee is less than one hour per week. While any call center job can be stressful, it can also be fulfilling and rewarding. Many of our employees have performed this work for more than 20 years. Verizon call center employees are well paid. In fact, the average annual salary of a call center employee can exceed the state’s median income. Year after year, Verizon has consistently been recognized as a great employer. In 2009 alone the company invested more than $450 million in the development, education and training of its employees. The company offers competitive wage and benefits packages, because attracting and retaining top talent has always been an integral part of our growth strategy.
--PHIL SANTORO
--Verizon Media Relations
--Boston
Police act to defuse a tense situation
With all of the bad press that has been in the news in regard to the Springfield police lately, I would like to address the handling of the incident on the Memorial Bridge last week.
I was one of the first citizens who stopped, after calling 911. Along with a couple other concerned citizens we talked with the man who was threatening to jump to keep him from jumping.
The reason I am writing though, is to express how impressed I was at the efficiency and professionalism of the State Police, the Springfield police and the Springfield Fire Department that was shown throughout the situation. After realizing that the man was a suspect in the home invasion the focus never changed; they were still very cautious and concerned with just getting him back over the railing safely. When they finally got him over the railing he was handcuffed and put on to the stretcher without any incident or “‘man handling.” Fine job to all involved.
--CHRIS PETRUCCI
--Agawam